Columbus Moves to Acquire Property for Refugee and Hines Intersection Overhaul
A pending Columbus City Council resolution would authorize eminent domain for eight property rights at Refugee and Hines roads if purchase negotiations fail.
Columbus City Council is scheduled to vote Monday, Nov. 2, on legislation declaring the city's intent to acquire property for an intersection overhaul at Refugee and Hines roads. The measure, Resolution 0241X-2026, was introduced on Oct. 13 and placed on the council's consent agenda during its first reading on Monday, Oct. 26. Under Resolution 0241X-2026, the city declares its necessity and intent to appropriate and accept real estate to complete the Refugee at Hines Road intersection improvements.
The resolution authorizes eminent domain proceedings if the city attorney is unable to locate property owners or agree with them in good faith on just compensation. City officials previously passed Ordinance 0045-2026 authorizing the city attorney to acquire real estate for the intersection work. Residents tracking the legislation or preparing testimony can reference Resolution 0241X-2026 on the council's consent docket before Monday's vote.
Statutory authority and property rights
The city is invoking condemnation powers under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 719 and Columbus City Code Chapter 909, along with the Columbus City Charter and the Ohio Constitution, to declare the necessity and intent to appropriate property interests for the public project. The legislation authorizes the city attorney to serve written notice of the resolution upon property owners, persons in possession, or individuals holding recorded real estate interests.
The resolution identifies eight specific property rights across parcels near the intersection needed for the Department of Public Service project:
- Three fee simple acquisitions without limitation of access, listed as Parcels 5-WD1, 5-WD2, and 10-WD.
- Two standard highway easements, designated as Parcels 8-SH1 and 8-SH2.
- Two temporary construction easements lasting 24 months, designated as Parcels 8-T1 and 8-T2.
- One perpetual sidewalk easement, designated as Parcel 9-P.
Intersection safety improvements
The planned overhaul aims to modernize the roadway and improve safety in southeast Columbus. According to city project documentation, the project will make safety improvements to the intersection of Refugee Road and Hines Road and the adjacent railroad tracks, and will add turn lanes on Refugee Road and on Hines Road. Roadway widening will accommodate an eastbound left-turn lane on Refugee Road and a southbound right-turn lane on Hines Road.
The project also calls for installing new signal equipment and street lighting to improve visibility for all road users, as well as storm sewer improvements and resurfacing of the Refugee Road bridge over Blacklick Creek.
For walking and biking access, the city plans to construct a shared-use path along the south side of Refugee Road to connect to the path at Portman Park's north pedestrian entrance at Mott's Place Road. A new sidewalk constructed along Hines Road north of Refugee Road will link to existing sidewalks at Overbey Drive.
High crash corridor and project timeline
Transportation officials placed the intersection on the Vision Zero Columbus High Injury Network because of a history of serious and fatal crashes, as well as collisions involving vulnerable road users including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. The city designated the location as a Vision Zero Priority Intersection for safety improvements.
Project documentation for the Refugee Road at Hines Road intersection improvements was updated on April 17, 2026. The project schedule and cost estimates outline four distinct phases:
- Design: Finished at an estimated cost of $900,000, spanning summer 2024 to fall 2026.
- Right-of-Way: Underway from early 2026 through early 2027 at an estimated cost of $400,000 to acquire required parcels and easements.
- Private Utility Relocations: Scheduled as an upcoming stage from fall 2025 to summer 2026 at an estimated cost of $200,000.
- Construction: Planned as an upcoming stage from summer 2027 to spring 2028 at an estimated cost of $4.6 million, backed by awarded Ohio Department of Transportation Safety Funds and subject to council funding approval and weather conditions.
Together, the four project phases represent a total estimated cost of $6.1 million.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (6)
Under Resolution 0241X-2026, the city declares its necessity and intent to appropriate and accept real estate to complete the Refugee at Hines Road intersection improvements.
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0241X-2026 · To declare the City’s necessity and intent to appropriate and accept certain fee simple title and/or lesser real estate in order to complete the Intersection Improvements- Refugee at Hines Road project. ($0.00)
The resolution authorizes eminent domain proceedings if the city attorney is unable to locate property owners or agree with them in good faith on just compensation.
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The City passed Ordinance Number 0045-2026 authorizing the City Attorney to acquire the Real Estate. Accordingly, the City intends to appropriate and accept the Real Estate in the event the City Attorney is unable to (i) locate the owners of the Real Estate, or (ii) agree with the owners of the Real Estate in good faith regarding the amount of just compensation.
City officials previously passed Ordinance 0045-2026 authorizing the city attorney to acquire real estate for the intersection work.
Read supporting passage
The City passed Ordinance Number 0045-2026 authorizing the City Attorney to acquire the Real Estate.
The city is invoking condemnation powers under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 719 and Columbus City Code Chapter 909, along with the Columbus City Charter and the Ohio Constitution, to declare the necessity and intent to appropriate property interests for the public project.
Read supporting passage
SECTION 1. That the City, pursuant to the City’s Charter, Columbus City Revised Code, Chapter 909 (1959), Constitution of the state of Ohio, and Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 719, declares the necessity and intent to appropriate and accept the fee simple title and/or lesser real estate to the following listed parcels (“Real Estate”), which are fully described in their associated exhibits and incorporated into this resolution for reference, in order for the Department of Public Services (“DPS”) to complete the Intersection Improvements- Refugee and Hines Road project (Project No. P530086-100037) (PD 120785)(“Public Project”).
The legislation authorizes the city attorney to serve written notice of the resolution upon property owners, persons in possession, or individuals holding recorded real estate interests.
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SECTION 2. That the City Attorney is authorized to cause a written notice of this resolution’s adoption to be served in the manner provided by law upon the owner(s), person(s) in possession, or person(s) possessing a real or possible real property interest of record in the Real Estate.
The resolution identifies eight specific property rights across parcels near the intersection needed for the Department of Public Service project:
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1) 5-WD1 (Fee Simple Without Limitation of Access) 2) 5-WD2 (Fee Simple Without Limitation of Access) 3) 8-SH1 (Standard Highway Easement) 4) 8-SH2 (Standard Highway Easement) 5) 8-T1 (24 Month Temporary Easement) 6) 8-T2 (24 Month Temporary Easement) 7) 9-P (Perpetual Sidewalk Easement)) 8) 10-WD (Fee Simple Without Limitation of Access)
https://engage.columbus.gov/refugeehinesintersection
Supporting evidence (9)
According to city project documentation, the project will make safety improvements to the intersection of Refugee Road and Hines Road and the adjacent railroad tracks, and will add turn lanes on Refugee Road and on Hines Road.
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This project will make safety improvements to the intersection at Refugee Rd at Hines Rd and the adjacent railroad tracks, and will add safe connectivity for people walking and biking in the area. The improvements include adding turn lanes on Refugee Rd and on Hines Rd.
The project also calls for installing new signal equipment and street lighting to improve visibility for all road users, as well as storm sewer improvements and resurfacing of the Refugee Road bridge over Blacklick Creek.
Read supporting passage
A new mast arm traffic signal and street lighting will be installed at the intersection to improve visibility for all road users. Storm sewer improvements will be made as needed. In addition, the Refugee Road Bridge over Blacklick Creek will be resurfaced.
For walking and biking access, the city plans to construct a shared-use path along the south side of Refugee Road to connect to the path at Portman Park's north pedestrian entrance at Mott's Place Road.
Read supporting passage
For safe walking and biking access, a shared-use path will be constructed along the south side of Refugee to connect to the path at Portman Park’s north pedestrian entrance at Mott’s Place Road. New sidewalk constructed along Hines Road north of Refugee Road will connect to existing sidewalk at Overbey Drive.
Transportation officials placed the intersection on the Vision Zero Columbus High Injury Network because of a history of serious and fatal crashes, as well as collisions involving vulnerable road users including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
Read supporting passage
This project is located on the Vision Zero Columbus High Injury Network due to the number of serious or fatal crashes and/or crashes involving vulnerable road users like people walking, biking or on a motorcycle. This location is a Vision Zero Priority Intersection identified for safety improvements.
Project documentation for the Refugee Road at Hines Road intersection improvements was updated on April 17, 2026.
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Page last updated: 17 Apr 2026, 02:42 PM
Design: Finished at an estimated cost of $900,000, spanning summer 2024 to fall 2026.
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Design Refugee Road at Hines Road - Intersection Safety Improvements has finished this stage Summer 2024- Fall 2026Estimated Cost: $900,000
Right-of-Way: Underway from early 2026 through early 2027 at an estimated cost of $400,000 to acquire required parcels and easements.
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Right-of-Way Refugee Road at Hines Road - Intersection Safety Improvements is currently at this stage Early 2026 - Early 2027Estimated Cost: $400,000
Private Utility Relocations: Scheduled as an upcoming stage from fall 2025 to summer 2026 at an estimated cost of $200,000.
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Private Utility Relocations this is an upcoming stage for Refugee Road at Hines Road - Intersection Safety Improvements Fall 2025 - Summer 2026Estimated Cost: $200,000
Construction: Planned as an upcoming stage from summer 2027 to spring 2028 at an estimated cost of $4.6 million, backed by awarded Ohio Department of Transportation Safety Funds and subject to council funding approval and weather conditions.
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Construction this is an upcoming stage for Refugee Road at Hines Road - Intersection Safety Improvements Summer 2027* - Spring 2028**Subject to funding approval by City Council and weather conditionsEstimated Cost: $4.6 Million****This project has been awarded ODOT Safety Funds